System comprising a cryogenic container for the temporary reduction of pressure losses

Abstract

The invention relates to a system including a cryogenic container, in particular an LNG container or a hydrogen container, an external heat exchanger and an internal heat exchanger with a pressure management system. The system also includes at least one of the following selectively connectable bypass lines for the temporary reduction of pressure losses: a first bypass line for the first heat exchanger tube of the external heat exchanger; a second bypass line for the second heat exchanger tube; a third bypass line for the internal heat exchanger.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a cryogenic container which is one of an LNG container or a hydrogen container,   an external heat exchanger and an internal heat exchanger,   wherein the external heat exchanger includes a medium inlet and a medium outlet for a heat exchange medium and the internal heat exchanger is arranged within the cryogenic container for utilizing the cryogenic fluid located in the cryogenic container as the heat exchange medium,   wherein the external heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanger tube with a first inlet and a first outlet and a second heat exchanger tube with a second inlet and a second outlet, or wherein the external heat exchanger comprises only a first heat exchanger tube with a first inlet and a first outlet, and   the system furthermore comprises a further external heat exchanger with a second heat exchanger tube with a second inlet and a second outlet;   wherein the internal heat exchanger comprises a third inlet and a third outlet;   wherein a removal line of the cryogenic container is connected to the first inlet of the external heat exchanger,   with an output line being connected to a first outlet of the external heat exchanger,   with a branch line being connected to the output line at a first node and being connected to the third inlet of the internal heat exchanger, and   with a first return line being connected to the third outlet of the internal heat exchanger and being connected to the second inlet of the second heat exchanger tube; and   wherein a second return line is connected to the second outlet of the second heat exchanger tube and is connected to the output line at a second node, the second node being located downstream of the first node;   wherein the system comprises at least one of the following selectively connectable bypass lines:
 a first bypass line for the first heat exchanger tube of the external heat exchanger, the first bypass line being connected to the removal line upstream of the first inlet and being connected to the output line downstream of the first outlet; 
 a second bypass line for the second heat exchanger tube, the second bypass line being connected to the first return line upstream of the second inlet and being connected to the second return line downstream of the second outlet; 
 a third bypass line for the internal heat exchanger, the third bypass line being connected to the branch line upstream of the third inlet and being connected to the first return line downstream of the third outlet. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a control device and at least one sensor for determining pressure readings and/or temperature readings, the sensor being arranged in the cryogenic container, in the removal line, in the branch line, in the first return line, in the second return line or in the output line,
 the control unit being designed for controlling a mass flow of cryogenic fluid through the first, second and/or third bypass line depending on the pressure readings and/or temperature readings received from the sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is designed for receiving or determining a temperature downstream of the second node, a pressure downstream of the second node and a pressure in the cryogenic container and for controlling a mass flow via the branch line, the first, second and/or third bypass line, under the conditions that the temperature downstream of the second node is at or above a predetermined minimum temperature, the pressure downstream of the second node is at or above a predetermined minimum pressure and the pressure in the cryogenic container is minimized. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is designed for increasing the mass flow through the first bypass line or the second bypass line when the temperature downstream of the second node is above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The system according  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is designed for increasing the mass flow through the third bypass line when the temperature downstream of the second node is below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the system is designed for providing the heat exchange medium at a first temperature at the onset of an operation and, after a predetermined period of time upon the onset of the operation, for providing the heat exchange medium at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature,
 the external heat exchanger being designed for bringing the cryogenic fluid at least to the predetermined minimum temperature of a consumer at the onset of the operation when the cryogenic fluid is being passed through the first heat exchanger tube once, and   the control unit being designed so as not to guide any mass flow of cryogenic fluid via the first bypass line and/or the second bypass line at the onset of the operation and for guiding a mass flow of cryogenic fluid via the first bypass line and/or the second bypass line after the predetermined period of time, optionally under the condition that the temperature downstream of the second node is at a predetermined minimum temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the system is designed for providing the heat exchange medium at a first temperature at the onset of an operation and, after a predetermined period of time upon the onset of the operation, for providing the heat exchange medium at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature,
 the external heat exchanger being designed for bringing the cryogenic fluid only to a temperature below the predetermined minimum temperature of a consumer at the onset of the operation when the cryogenic fluid is being passed through the first heat exchanger tube once, and   the control unit being designed for guiding a mass flow of cryogenic fluid via the third bypass line at the onset of the operation, optionally under the condition that the temperature downstream of the second node is at a predetermined minimum temperature, and so as not to guide any mass flow of cryogenic fluid via the third bypass line after the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is designed for increasing the mass flow of cryogenic fluid via the first bypass line when the pressure in the cryogenic container or downstream of the second node is below a predetermined threshold, the control unit preferably being designed for relaxing or suspending a condition regarding a required minimum temperature of the consumer. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first bypass line has a valve at the connection point to the removal line, a valve at the connection point to the output line or a valve between said connection points;
 wherein the second bypass line has a valve at the connection point to the first return line, a valve at the connection point to the second return line or a valve between said connection points; and/or   wherein the third bypass line has a valve at the connection point to the branch line, a valve at the connection point to the first return line or a valve between said connection points.   
     
     
         20 . A vehicle comprising a system according to  claim 11 , wherein the output line is connected to a consumer, in particular an engine or a fuel cell, of the vehicle, the consumer being designed for operation in normal mode, when the consumer receives cryogenic fluid at a predetermined minimum temperature and a predetermined minimum pressure.